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Carmona's deliberate pace pays off

Carmona's deliberate pace pays off

MINNEAPOLIS -- Manager Manny Acta was concerned that Indians starter Fausto Carmona was taking a little too much time between pitches on Monday night, but decided it was best not to intervene.

After all, Carmona's deliberate pace -- while worrisome on an extremely hot and humid evening -- was getting solid results against the Twins.

"Yeah, he was kind of slow," Acta said. "He has some type of routine going. It just didn't look or feel very good on a day like [Monday]. I talked to [pitching coach Tim] Belcher about it and he said, 'Hey, it's working, so let's leave it alone. Whatever works.'"

Making his first start off the 15-day disabled list, following a bout with a strained right quadriceps, Carmona held Minnesota to two runs over six innings in guiding the Tribe to a 6-3 win at Target Field. With the victory -- only his second in a 12-start span -- Carmona improved to 5-10 with a 5.63 ERA.

Acta said Carmona's slow styling is more about keeping his composure in the moment just before he unleashes a pitch.

"It does help him," Acta said. "What we want to make sure, is that he doesn't rush when he has the ball and is going to throw it. It's not so much in between pitches, but being able to hold the ball longer and just staying under control, instead of going forward too quick and flying open, and all that kind of stuff."